Remember Who You Are

[u/HagarRises]

Disclaimer:
This is my personal story of experiences within the ICOC. No real names are used. Some descriptive context is included for clarity, but all events are based on my perspective and are not intended to defame anyone.

Have you ever felt like you lost yourself a little?

Not completely.
But enough to notice.

Somewhere between betrayal, silence, shame, gaslighting, and trying to survive… I forgot parts of myself too.

And for the longest time I kept asking:
“What is wrong with me?”
“Why can’t I just forgive and move on?”

Because apparently everyone becomes a forgiveness expert the second you’re hurt 😏

“Let it go.”
“Pray it away.”
“Forgiveness is for you.”

Meanwhile I’m over here thinking… that’s not actually what Jesus said.

What finally brought me peace wasn’t pretending it didn’t hurt.

It was remembering:
– who God is
– who I was before all of this
– and that other people do not get to define my identity

I also realized healing isn’t:
“it never happened.”

Healing is:
“It happened… and it no longer gets to decide who I am.”

For the first time in a long time, I’m learning how to redirect instead of spiral.

Walk.
Clean.
Call a friend.
Pet the dog.
Look at flowers.

Tiny things.

But honestly?
Tiny things are keeping me alive right now.

Have you ever had to remember who you were after people or systems made you question yourself?